At the Deutsche Windtechnik Training Center, service technicians train on original-condition nacelles. Why did you choose a Nordex N90 and a Senvion MM82 for Bissendorf?
Both nacelles complement the turbine portfolio at our Training Center in Viöl: there, training is aligned with our service offerings and focuses on turbines from Vestas, Siemens, Enercon, and Senvion. For a brief time, the newly added Nordex N90 in Bissendorf was the most powerful serial turbine in the world! (laughs) Well, that was quite some time ago—around 2002/2003. While its market share in Germany is relatively small, its technology is widely deployed. The N90 belongs to the Beta generation, a foundation for the Gamma generation, including models like the N100 and N117. Its NC2 control system is found in Beta, Gamma, and Delta models of Nordex turbines. With the Nordex N90, we can train on a wide range of Nordex systems.
The Senvion MM82, formerly Repower, is the first Senvion turbine to use Bachmann control technology, which other manufacturers have also implemented. Its Woodward-brand frequency converter is a widespread technology found in Nordex, GE, and Fuhrländer turbines. This makes our Senvion MM82 an essential training resource that applies to more than just its specific turbine type.
How do you measure the success of your training programmes?
We constantly evaluate each course with the participants after completion. However, the true measure of success lies in the field where the quality of training is evident. High-quality training manifests in more independent work and fewer support calls from service teams to technical support. Though these factors are highly individual and difficult to quantify, the training may also reduce the time spent on-site at turbines. That's why maintaining close communication with our Field Operations teams is so important: it ensures we adapt our training offerings to meet the real-world needs of service teams.
Are the participants primarily from Germany, or is the training more international?
Most participants are based in Germany, but we regularly welcome colleagues from abroad. Additionally, we are starting to engage more intensively in training our international units. This includes developing a "Train the Trainer" concept for various technical topics. We aim to train and upskill more service personnel globally to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals.
What is the structure of the training programmes at the Training Center?
Our basic offering begins with a Fundamentals-level course, followed by Level 1 and 2 training, depending on the participant's needs. The Fundamentals course focuses on essential safety practices, efficient working methods, and the use of relevant tools. Level 1 training covers maintenance protocols, enabling participants to independently perform maintenance tasks for a specific turbine type.
For experienced staff, we offer Level 2 training, which focuses on fault diagnosis. While 60–70% of reported issues can be resolved remotely by our Control Centre, the remaining cases require our teams to visit the turbine and actively troubleshoot. Independent, smart troubleshooting is the focus of Level 2 training. As the training progresses from Fundamentals to Level 2, the emphasis shifts from classroom-based instruction to hands-on work with turbines, increasingly tailored to specific turbine types.
This is a fairly traditional approach to turbine training. What does the future of training look like?
Indeed, training on physical turbines has its limitations. Original nacelles provide an excellent foundation for teaching the basics, and we'll continue this approach in the coming years. However, nacelles are getting larger, requiring ever-bigger facilities. That's why we've begun exploring virtual training spaces. Visitors to Bissendorf witnessed firsthand our demonstration of VR headsets for training purposes.
We're also developing online tutorials on specific topics that our service technicians can access directly on-site. Expanding these tools and strengthening our team will be key to our future. Despite these advances, the success of training will always hinge on direct interaction between participants and trainers. We're fortunate to have highly experienced trainers who are passionate about their work. That said, even trainers are always learning! (laughs) Ultimately, the future of training will involve a balanced combination of real-world and virtual methods.
It's not just the Bissendorf Training Center that's new at Deutsche Windtechnik; you also started recently in June 2024. What inspired you to take on this role?
My connection to wind energy runs deep. I grew up on a farm near the Danish border, where my family installed a wind turbine in 1989—a Kano turbine, around 15m tall with a steel tower. We often maintained it ourselves to keep it running. After finishing school in Hamburg and serving in the military, I studied Energy and Environmental Management in Flensburg.
Later, I gained valuable experience at ThyssenKrupp in the Ruhr region, delving into various management systems. I held my first leadership role, overseeing innovation, energy, environmental, and quality management, as well as quality assurance. Even though we moved south, my wife and I always felt a strong desire to return to the north.
At GP JOULE, I re-entered the renewables sector as Head of Sales and Site Acquisition. Now, in my role at Deutsche Windtechnik, I can combine my skills and experiences to help make the Training Center future-ready with my talented colleagues.
